Samantha Ratnam

Leader of the Victorian Greens, MLC for Northern Metro

I am the MLC for Northern Metropolitan and the leader of the Victorian Greens. 

In 2017, I entered the Victorian Parliament representing the Northern Metropolitan Region in the Legislative Council. In the 2018 state election, I was re-elected to this position.

As an MP and the Leader of the Victorian Greens, I am a strong advocate for our environment and social justice. I have actively campaigned to save public housing, reduce gambling harm and for stronger action on climate change.

Samantha with community members marching in a rally

Prior to entering the Victorian Parliament, I was a social worker for over 15 years in the fields of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, international development, family services and in settlement services for newly arrived migrants from refugee backgrounds.

Alongside my social work career, I also spent five years as a Councillor at the City of Moreland, where I was elected the first Greens Mayor of Moreland in 2015. On council, I worked with my fellow Councillors to secure the largest funding commitment to environmental action in order to reduce Moreland’s community carbon emissions to zero. I was also integral in increasing the council’s cycling infrastructure budget by 75% in the first year, fought to protect residents’ appeal rights in planning matters and voted against more poker machines in the city.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Social Work with Honours and a PhD in Youth Sociology.

I believe in putting people first and I'm proud to be part of a party that has never taken money from corporations trying to buy influence - governments should always act in the public good, not in the interests of their corporate mates. 

I want our state to be all it can be by investing in world-class public transport, powering Victoria with 100% clean renewable energy, providing homes for everyone, protecting our forests from logging companies and returning essential services like electricity to public hands. 

Together, my team and I will represent your needs in parliament and build a future for all of us - not just the wealthy few. 

Portfolios

First Nations Justice
Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism
Public and Affordable Housing
Women, Gender Equality and Family Violence
Sustainable Cities and Planning 
Child Protection 
Veterans

Take Action

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End Extinction In Victoria

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Black Lives Matter

Our justice system should treat every single Victorian equally and fairly, regardless of your race or how much money you have. 

News

Question without notice- Coal exploration

23 June, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — My question is for the acting Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water. Recently the Premier wrote...

Question without notice- Renewable energy

23 June, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — My question is for the acting Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water. Recently the Premier wrote...

State Taxation Acts Amendment Bill 2015

23 June, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — I would also ask that my amendments be circulated. I just need to make a short explanation. I stated during ...

State Taxation Acts Amendment Bill 2015

23 June, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — I would like to give the house the story so far. The government announced this special tax on foreigners, an...

Appropriation (2015-2016) Bill 2015 and Budget Papers 2015-16

11 June, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — The government has done a very good job of going out and selling the bits of its budget it wants to sell. Th...

Karen Alexander

11 June, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — I was delighted to learn that one of Australia's great environmentalists and a dear, dear friend of mine, Ka...

Auditor-General: Victoria'S Consumer Protection Framework for Building Construction

10 June, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — I was not exactly shocked, but I was quite saddened to read the Victorian Auditor-General's May 2015 report ...

Hon. John Hamilton Simpson

10 June, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — As has been noted, and as is known by all, Mr Simpson represented the true Labor values of a bygone era. Lik...

Production of documents

10 June, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — By leave, I move: That in accordance with standing order 11.01, there be tabled in the Council by Monday, 22...

Production of Documents

10 June, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — It seems that government members and their lead speaker are starting to get a bit bored and frustrated with ...

Port of Melbourne

28 May, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — One hundred years ago Labor members would have come into this place and railed against some of the ugly priva...

Recreational fishing special coordinator

28 May, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — It is unfortunate that the allegation of a conflict of interest against a private citizen — someone who is a ...

Alcoa (Portland Aluminium Smelter) (Amendment) Act Amendment Bill 2015

27 May, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. This is a very straightforward bill. It removes from our fre...

Standing Committee on the Economy and Infrastructure

27 May, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — I move: That pursuant to sessional order 6 this house requires the economy and infrastructure committee to in...

Regional Development Victoria Amendment (Jobs and Infrastructure) Bill 2015

26 May, 2015 - Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — In the first part of Mr Drum's presentation I was thinking he was going to devote himself solely to the mecha...